SHANMUGAM IAS ACADEMY

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Mauritius President to be chief guest at Global Ayurveda Fest in Kerala

A
five-day Global Ayurveda Festival will be held from 20th February in Kerala
to highlight the state's emergence as the global destination in which Mauritius
President Rajkeswar Puryaag will be the chief guest.

Described as the
biggest summit on Ayurveda, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will
inaugurate the second edition, in which 4000 delegates from 35 countries
are expected to participate. In the context of the growing burden of new age
communicable diseases, the central theme of this edition will be Ayurveda in
Public Health, Dr G G Gangadharan, Chairman National Steering committee and Dr
G Vinod Kumar, Secretary General, told reporters in Kochi on Tuesday.

Though
the potential of Ayurveda in public health is huge, it has unfortunately not
been tapped to full potential till date. Various sub-themes for the event
include various clinical specialities in Ayurveda, Cosmetology, Nutrition and a
variety of other related topics. A Lankan delegation, including its Health
minister Salinda Dissanayake; Mahipela Herath, Chief Minister of the
Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council; B S B Yalegama, minister of health and
Indigenous medicine, Kandy are among those participating.

A
50-member German delegation and delegates from countries such as France,
Argentina, U.K., Italy, Singapore have confirmed participation. At least 350
delegates will be participating. UK researcher Dr Gerry Bodekar, an adviser on
international policy on Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine),
Dr Marc Cohen, Australia's foremost pioneer of complementary medicine who has
made significant impact on education, research, clinical practice and policy
are among foreign delegates who would address scientific sessions. An
International Business Meet, being organised by the Kerala State Industrial
Development Corporation will be inaugurated on 21st Feb by state Home minister
Ramesh Chennithala.

The
Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), Kerala Government
and the Ayurveda fraternity of Kerala represented by various associations are
organising the event.